Gratitude

Gratitude...takes nothing for granted, is never unresponsive, is constantly awakening to new wonder and to praise of the goodness of God.

~Thomas Merton

Basking in God's Grace

I went home today to check my mail and messages. The good news is my stress test was normal. I am basking in God's Grace.

Preparation or Battle?

The question I pose today is this: "Is God preparing me for Ghana or am I in a spiritual battle?"

When I had my EKG for my previous surgery, no one made any comment that something may be wrong. But, when my surgeon for my knee replacement had whom so ever look at the EKG he saw something irregular. It seems like I have had a heart attack in the past. Now, I am waiting for a stress test to be scheduled. This is providing stress in my life.

So which one is it...preparation or battle?

Random Thoughts on Surgery

Last week I had surgery. Nothing major, but it was surgery none the less. As I waited to be taken to the OR, a few random thoughts crossed my mind:

~ There were no chickens running around.
~ Everything was very modern and very sterile.
~ I don't like not being able to take care of myself.
~ It's hard to ask for help.
~ I want my mommy!
~ I wish I had my favorite blanket with me.
~ God is still in control.

One surgery done, one to go. I have to admit, I'm not looking forward to being the patient again. This time it will be for a knee replacement. The hospital stay will be longer. The recovery time will be longer. The two good things about it are: 1. My knee will quit hurting and I'll be able to walk a lot easier and 2. God is still in control.

Disturb Us, Lord

Disturb us, Lord when we are too pleased with ourselves,

When our Dreams have come true because we have dreamed too little,

When we arrived safely because we have sailed too close to the shore.

Disturb us, Lord, with the abundance of things we possess

We have lost the thirst for the waters of life

Having fallen in love with life, we have ceased to dream of eternity.

And, in our efforts to build a new earth,

We have allowed our vision of the new Heaven to dim.

Disturb us, Lord, to dare more boldly,

To venture on wider seas where storms will show Your mastery;

Where loosing sight of land, we shall find the stars.

We ask You to push back the horizons of our hopes,

And to push into the future in stregnth, courage, hope and love.

Attributed to Sir Francis Drake, 1577

Gaurenteed Dividends

I'm sure most people have been watching what has been happening on Wall Street during the last two weeks. People have lost more money than I'll ever see in a lifetime.

But, there IS good news!

When you invest in Missions, in spreading the Word of God throughout the world, you will always have dividends. There WILL be great rewards.

Invest in Missions today. You won't be disappointed!

Blessed to be Born in the USA

I am so blessed. So are you.

This week I have been working on lessons for the Children's Program for a week long Mission Festival. I am focusing on Bibleless people groups. And, I am overwhelmed at how blessed I am just because I was born in the United States of America. I own at least 8 Bibles of various translations in my heart language. Some have footnotes and some are study Bibles and some are annotated.

Do I appreciate this blessing? Rarely. Yes, I read Scripture. Yes, I study Scripture. Not as much as I should. I have become accustomed to having Bibles around. The Word of God is easy to access. Yet, I don't always take advantage of it. Most times the child like wonder of it all is missing. I get caught up in "stuff to do" instead of getting caught in the Word of God.

Ghana has 79 languages not counting the dialects. Only a couple of these languages have a complete Bible. People there hunger and thirst for the Word of God in their heart language. I should, too.

This IS a Test

This IS a test. I think it has somethig to do with that "5 letter 'T' word" again.

I had excruciating pain on Tuesday night. It lasted for hours. Of course, I didn't call anyone. The good news is, it was not a heart attack. It may be gall bladder trouble. So, I am in the midst of tests. some which aren't scheduled for 3 weeks.

Trust is the key word here. I have knee replacement surgery scheduled for Dec. 9. I am traveling all over PA during the next 3 weeks, speaking at churches and communing with God and driving back home in the midst of it all for tests and doctors appointments. I have to admit, I'm not thrilled about all the driving. But, things need to be done. And I need to trust God to keep me safe and awake as I drive. I need to trust Him as the Great Physician, trusting that all will be well in time for my knee surgery.

The Girl Effect

In most of the world, girls are denied education. Or, at best, their families cannot afford to send them to school. Families have to pay for the education of their children. Many countries do not provide secondary education that is underwrited by the government/taxes. So, since girls are thought of as being of less worth than a boy, they oftentimes do not get an education.

Girls can change the world!
(With Christ's help. of course!)

Bibleless People

Most people in Ghana's Upper West Region are illiterate. Less than 5% of the population can read their first or heart language. These men are watching and listening to a Pastor during a sermon. It was the first time a Pastor was ever at their church. The leadership of the church is given by a young man that recently finished Senior Secondary School and can read English. There is NO Bible in the language of these people.




Rev. John Russell visited this church that meets under a tree in the middle of a corn field. He gave a salvation message to the people in attendance. He used word pictures and demonstrated what he could. In this picture he was demonstrating the weight of sin. People listened. Seeds were planted. Only the Lord of the Harvest knows what will happen next.

Pray that the Bible will become available in all 79 languages of Ghana and in all the numerous dialects.

In what language would Jesus speak to these people?
In their own.

Friend or Foe?

This monkey is a pet of one of the churches in the Upper West Region of Ghana that I have visited. Most of the kids are afraid of him. Monkeys can sense fear just like dogs do, which doesn't help. But, if you at least try to act like you are not afraid, the monkey will allow you to pet it and feed it. (I did both.)

Many people in this region of Ghana believe if you have a pet whatever, that the animal will keep the evil spirits away. I can't help but wonder...is this monkey a friend or a foe? Is he just a pet (friend) that is tied in a tree and taken care of by people in the church? Or is he a foe and used as an animal to keep away evil spirits - a part of the ethnic religions that are so prevalant in the north?

Where do you put your trust? Is it in your job? your health? Your bank account? Your 401K? or is your trust in the Lord Jesus Christ?

Reading Town Library Dedicated

Reading Town Library, Ankaase, Ghana

Hannah, Assistant Librarian (L), Julie, Head Librarian (R)

Books Needed to be Catalogued

Entering Data, Cataloguing Books

Children Enjoying Books

Reading Town Library, in the village of Ankaase, Ghana, was dedicated to the glory of God on Sat., Sept. 20. It has been in the process of being built for the last four years. The purpose of this library is to give the people of Ankaase a chance to improve their lives by reading, studying, literacy and computer classes.

A Gift from the Heart

What is the most memorable gift that you have ever received? (Other than the gift of salvation.) Perhaps it was a diamond, the promise of love and a life together. A child is definately a memorable gift from God. Maybe it was a family heirloom. Up to this point for me, it had been a teddy bear given to me by an orphan in Russia. But, I'm thinking the gift I received in Ghana will top that. I was given a live chicken - a rooster to be exact - by the people of the Lawra Methodist Integrated Health Ministries.

Now, what did I do with that live rooster? Well, I graciously accepted it and took it back to Wa where my friends live. I blessed their night watchman with it. I imagine it has been dinner by now.

What impressed me most, both by the teddy bear in Russia and the chicken in Ghana, is that the gift was given not out of the giver's excess, but out of the giver's meager possessions. They both were given sacrificially. The chicken was badly needed food, yet it was given with a grateful heart.

When was the last time you gave sacrificially? When was the last time I gave sacrificially? May God forgive us for being "spoiled Americans" in an "it's all about what I want or what I think I need" type of society.